Orientation apparatus for drilling machinery and method for orienting a drilling element of drilling machinery

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses an orientation apparatus for drilling machinery comprising an orientation device provided with a casing with fastening means for coupling the orientation device to the drilling machinery, and detection means in data communication with electronic means provided in the casing configured to determine the relative orientation of the orientation device with respect to true north, and an interface device in data communication with the orientation device and configured to display directional information of said orientation device which enables the axial alignment of the drilling machine with respect to the axial axis of a hole to be drilled. The invention also discloses a method for orienting drilling machinery in the oriented drilling of a well hole

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of Spanish Patent Application No. P201930290 filed on Mar. 29, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the field of underground drilling in general, and more particularly, to an orientation apparatus and method for drilling machinery by means of which it is possible, by means of micromechanical gyroscopes, to determine true north with the aim of providing a more precise orientation of the drilling machinery.

Within the technical field of underground drilling, multiple apparatuses have been developed with the corresponding methods of use thereof for orienting the machinery before or during the drilling of a well.

In some of these drilling techniques, the tool can be oriented on the surface, just before starting the drilling of the well, in order to subsequently verify the orientation of the tool with a set of sensors provided in said drilling tool, for example, in a drilling head, wherein such sensors are configured to measure the azimuth, the angle of inclination and the angle of obliquity.

Generally, the azimuth, through which true north is determined, can be measured with a magnetometer or a magnetic sensor, such as a compass, which uses the Earth's magnetic field to determine said azimuth in relation to the Earth's magnetic field. The angles of inclination and obliquity can be determined by means of accelerometers, which are widely known within the technical field.

In the particular case of determining the azimuth by means of a magnetometer, said determination may not be entirely reliable due to possible external magnetic interferences, caused by, for example, the presence of the very drilling devices or apparatuses, the use of drilling tubes made of magnetic material, proximity to rock with a magnetic nature, among others, which affect the reading of the Earth's magnetic field by the magnetometer.

As an alternative to magnetometers, some orientation devices or apparatuses make use of mechanical gyroscopes, which are not affected by magnetic interference and, therefore, do not suffer from the disadvantages associated with the use of magnetometers. However, one disadvantage of mechanical gyroscopes is that they have relatively large dimensions, which increases the size of the device or apparatus wherein they are arranged. Furthermore, although the mechanical gyroscopes can be used as a guide in the initial hole, they also have the disadvantage of being fragile and they take time to enter the desired mode of operation since they need to be thermally stable before starting operation. Additionally, mechanical gyroscopes are not suitable in the unfavourable environment which occurs during the drilling.

Given the disadvantages of mechanical gyroscopes, some fibre-optic gyroscopes have been implemented in orientation apparatuses for drilling machinery, preferably in orthogonally-organised pairs; however, these fibre-optic gyroscopes continue to have a significant size, although smaller than the mechanical ones, which keeps said orientation apparatuses limited as far as size.

Therefore, the need for an apparatus for orienting drilling machinery which solves the aforementioned disadvantages and which furthermore has a smaller size than the ones currently known in the state of the art is apparent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the disadvantages found, the present invention provides an orientation apparatus for drilling machinery comprising an orientation device which in turn is comprised by a casing, fastening means which can be connected to the casing and configured to couple the orientation device to a drilling element of the drilling machine; and detection means in data communication with electronic means provided in the casing configured to determine the relative orientation of the orientation apparatus with respect to true north; the orientation apparatus further comprises an interface device in data communication with the orientation device and configured to display directional information of said orientation device which enables the axial alignment of a drilling element of the drilling machine with respect to the axial axis of a hole to be drilled; wherein the detection means of the orientation device of the orientation apparatus comprise at least one micromechanical gyroscope configured for the relative orientation of the orientation apparatus with respect to true north.

In alternative embodiments of the orientation apparatus, the detection means of the orientation device comprise three micromechanical gyroscopes.

In other embodiments of the orientation apparatus, the orientation device comprises at least one three mutually-orthogonal accelerometers.

In alternative embodiments, the electronic means are configured to reduce the noise of the signal, the error and the deviation in the readings taken from the micromechanical gyroscope.

In other embodiments of the orientation apparatus, the data communication between the interface device and the orientation device is established wirelessly, by means of Bluetooth or similar.

In other, even more alternative embodiments of the orientation apparatus, the interface device is portable.

The invention also discloses a method for orienting a drilling element of drilling machinery and oriented drilling of a well hole comprising the steps of:

-   -   coupling an orientation apparatus for drilling machinery, as         described in previous paragraphs, to a drilling element of the         drilling machine such that the orientation apparatus coincides         with the axial axis of the drilling element;     -   powering on the orientation apparatus, keeping it stationary for         the calibration and power-on self-test sequence;     -   handling the drilling element until the axial axis thereof         coincides with the orientation required; and     -   drilling the well hole.

In preferred embodiments of the method for orienting, after the step for handling the drilling element, the step is included for uncoupling the orientation apparatus from the drilling element.

In other embodiments of the method for orienting, after the step for handling the drilling element, a step is included for keeping the orientation apparatus coupled to the drilling machine.

In other preferred embodiments of the method for orienting, it additionally comprises tracking the relative movement of the orientation device after it has been calibrated and after the power-on self-test sequence in order to determine the relative movement of said orientation device.

One of the advantages of the invention is that the inclusion of micromechanical gyroscopes as sensor means of the orientation device within the orientation apparatus makes said orientation device, and therefore the apparatus, smaller in comparison with analogous alignment and orientation devices within the same technical field, which enables the easy incorporation thereof in different types and sizes of drilling machines.

Another notable advantage of the invention is that micromechanical gyroscopes provide better precision when detecting the azimuth, and therefore true north, than other gyroscopic devices provided in similar orientation apparatuses such as a mechanical gyroscope or a fibre-optic gyroscope. Furthermore, micromechanical gyroscopes are more durable and do not change their internal parameters when faced with vibrations or impacts unlike, for example, fibre-optic gyroscopes or mechanical gyroscopes.

Furthermore, and as seen in one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the detection means are preferably three micromechanical gyroscopes, which make the orientation apparatus able to determine the azimuth in any position thereof, including the vertical and the horizontal positions. The latter enables the orientation device of the orientation apparatus to be permanently coupled in the drilling machinery, which results in a significant technical advantage unlike other orientation apparatuses which use other types of detection means such as analogue sensors which require a fixed horizontal surface for calibration and, therefore, cannot be incorporated into drilling machinery, or mechanical gyroscopes which, due to the dimensions thereof, are not viable as a permanent element in the drilling machine.

These three micromechanical gyroscopes also enable true north to be determined without using latitude data, which makes the apparatus more adaptable to different situations, terrains and drilling machinery, for example, in a mine wherein a GPS receiver does not work and/or there is no prior data with respect to the latitude, but that, with other techniques, this latitude must be known.

Another notable advantage of the orientation apparatus of the invention is that the configuration of the casing makes the orientation device resistant to impacts and dust in order to withstand wellbore drilling operation.

Another notable advantage of the invention is that the apparatus and the method disclosed therein do not need any prior knowledge or data, for which reason it is completely autonomous in operation from data or external information. Therefore, after the orientation apparatus has been coupled and axially aligned with the drilling element of the drilling machinery, and after it has been powered on and the calibration sequence and the power-on self-test sequence have been performed, the orientation apparatus is already prepared to operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should be considered by way of illustration and not limitation, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the orientation apparatus for drilling machinery coupled in a drilling element of said drilling machinery.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in the form of examples to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings can be implemented without such details.

According to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the invention discloses an orientation apparatus (1) for drilling machinery (2), this orientation apparatus (1) being configured to be coupled such that it is aligned with an axial axis L1 of said drilling machinery (2).

The orientation apparatus (1), as seen in the FIGURE, at least comprises an orientation device (3), in turn comprised by a casing or chassis (4) wherein fastening means (5) are provided which can be connected to said casing (4) and configured to couple the orientation apparatus (1) to the drilling machine (2).

The orientation device (3) also defines the very axial axis or orientation axis (L2) thereof, which consequently causes the orientation apparatus (1) to also have at least one axial axis (L2) such that, when the orientation device (3) is coupled to the drilling machinery (2), the axial axis (L2) is parallel to the axial axis (L1) of said drilling machinery (2).

Detection means (not shown) in data communication with electronic means (not shown) are provided in the casing (4), wherein said electronic means are configured to, starting from the data supplied by the detection means, determine the relative orientation of the orientation apparatus (1) with respect to true north.

Preferably, the detection means comprise at least one micromechanical gyroscope, which has been shown to have advantages in terms of reliability and precision in determining true north and the azimuth, compared to other gyroscopes of the state of the art, such as mechanical gyroscopes or fibre-optic gyroscopes. Furthermore, given the small size of these micromechanical gyroscopes, the invention provides the arrangement of three micromechanical gyroscopes (not shown), which enable the orientation apparatus (1) to determine the azimuth in any position thereof, including the vertical and the horizontal positions.

Also, in preferred embodiments, the detection means comprise one or preferably at least three mutually-orthogonal accelerometers (not shown), configured to detect the angle of inclination and/or the angle of obliquity of the orientation apparatus (1).

Moreover, the detection means can comprise different micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) configured to detect true north.

As stated in previous lines, the orientation device (3) comprises electronic means configured to, starting from the data supplied by the detection means, determine the relative orientation of the orientation apparatus (1) with respect to true north. These electronic means have at least some processing means, communication means, storage means, A/D or D/A conversion means, and also have filtering means configured to reduce the noise of the signal, the error and the deviation in the readings taken from the micromechanical gyroscope or the detection means in general.

FIG. 1 also shows that the orientation apparatus (1) comprises an interface device (7) which can be connected such that it communicates the data to and from the orientation device (3), said interface device (7) being configured at the same time to display directional information of said orientation device (3) which enables the axial alignment of a drilling element (6) of the drilling machine (2) with respect to the axial axis (not shown) of a hole to be drilled (not shown).

This interface device (7) can be incorporated in the casing (4); however, it is preferably located outside of the orientation device (3), although it is always connected in data communication with the latter, either by means of wiring or wireless means with known protocols such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or similar.

In preferred embodiments, the interface device (7) is portable, such that the orientation data coming from the detection means can be available at any location wherein a user is located, while said interface device (7) is connected in data communication with the orientation device (3).

In another embodiment, the invention discloses a method for orienting drilling machinery (2) in an oriented drilling operation of a well hole comprising the steps of:

-   -   coupling an orientation apparatus (1) for drilling machinery (2)         such that an axial axis (L2) of the orientation apparatus (1)         coincides with the axial axis (L1) of the drilling machinery,         the orientation apparatus (1) at least comprises:     -   an orientation device (3) comprised by         -   a casing (4);         -   fastening means (5) that can be connected to the casing (4)             and configured to couple the orientation device (3) to the             drilling machine (2); and         -   detection means in data communication with electronic means             provided in the casing (4) configured to determine the             relative orientation of the orientation apparatus (1) with             respect to true north;     -   an interface device (7) in data communication with the         orientation device (3) and configured to display directional         information of said orientation device (3) which enables the         axial alignment of a drilling element (6) of the drilling         machine (2) with respect to the axial axis of a hole to be         drilled; wherein, in the orientation apparatus (1), the         detection means of the orientation device (3) comprise at least         one micromechanical gyroscope configured to determine the         relative orientation of the orientation apparatus (1) with         respect to true north.     -   powering on the orientation apparatus (1), keeping it stationary         for the calibration and power-on self-test sequence;     -   handling the drilling element (6) or the drilling machine (2) in         general until the axial axis (L1) thereof coincides with the         required orientation;     -   drilling the well hole.

It is important to note that, in the disclosed method, an operator of the system places the orientation apparatus (1) such that the fastening means (5) are coupled either to the spindle of the drilling element (6), or to said drilling element, or to some other suitable portion of the drilling machine (2). Then the orientation apparatus (1) of the present invention is powered on, ensuring to remain in a completely stationary position during the calibration and power-on self-test (POST) sequence thereof.

It is also emphasised that, thanks to the micromechanical gyroscopes provided as detection means in the orientation device (3), it is not necessary to know the latitude data, for which reason once the orientation apparatus (1) is powered on and once the calibration and self-test sequence has been performed, the orientation apparatus (1) is already enabled to detect true north based on the Earth's rotation.

With the orientation device (3) coupled to the drilling machinery (2), the calibration sequence completed and said orientation device (3) being aligned with the axial axis (L1) of the drilling machine and/or aligned with the axial axis of the perforation element (6), the latter is then moved in order to adjust the position of the azimuth or the angles of inclination or obliquity such that the axial axis (L1) coincides with the axial axis of the hole to be drilled.

All the adjustment movements to orient or align the drilling machine (2) are recorded by electronic means and used to calculate and determine the relative changes between the current position of the orientation device (3), and consequently, drilling machinery (2) aligned with it, with respect to the expected or target alignment with respect to the hole to be drilled; wherein all these data, calculations and determinations are displayed through the communication means to the interface device (7), such that a user can also determine the correct orientation of the drilling machinery (2).

Furthermore, both the orientation apparatus (1) and the method for orienting machinery are preferably provided for orienting and aligning the drilling machinery (2), in particular aligning the drilling element (6) with respect to the axial axis of the hole to be drilled before the drilling; therefore, once the required alignment has been successfully achieved at the desired values, the orientation device (3) of the drilling element (6) or of the drilling machine (2) is uncoupled.

However, and based on the fact that micromechanical gyroscopes enable the azimuth to be determined in any position of the orientation device (3), it is possible to permanently couple the orientation device (3) or the orientation apparatus (1) completely, when the interface device (7) is implemented in the orientation device (3), to the drilling machinery (2) keeping it coupled while the drilling tasks are performed.

As discussed in previous paragraphs, the incorporation of at least one micromechanical gyroscope, preferably three micromechanical gyroscopes, improves the reliability and precision in detecting true north compared to other similar orientation apparatuses in the field of the art.

Furthermore, by eliminating the need to know the latitude, the apparatus is autonomous in operation since it does not depend on data external to it and, therefore, it is quicker at determining true north and orienting the drilling machinery, in comparison with analogous apparatuses or devices.

Below, possible embodiments of the orientation apparatus are listed:

1. An orientation apparatus for drilling machinery comprising:

-   -   an orientation device comprised by     -   a casing;     -   fastening means that can be connected to the casing and         configured to couple the orientation device to the drilling         machinery; and     -   detection means in data communication with electronic means         provided in the casing configured to determine the relative         orientation of the orientation device with respect to true         north;     -   an interface device in data communication with the orientation         device and configured to display directional information of said         orientation device which enables the axial alignment of the         drilling machine with respect to the axial axis of a hole to be         drilled;

The orientation apparatus being characterised in that the detection means of the orientation device comprise at least one micromechanical gyroscope configured to determine the relative orientation of the orientation device with respect to true north.

2. The orientation apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the detection means of the orientation device comprise three micromechanical gyroscopes. 3. The orientation apparatus according to any of embodiments 1 or 2, wherein the orientation device comprises at least three mutually-orthogonal accelerometers. 4. The orientation apparatus according to any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the electronic means are configured to reduce the noise of the signal, the error and the deviation in the readings taken from the micromechanical gyroscope. 5. The orientation apparatus according to any of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the data communication between the interface device and the orientation device is established wirelessly. 6. The orientation apparatus according to any of embodiments 2 to 4, wherein the interface device is portable. 7. The orientation apparatus according to any of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein, for orienting the drilling machinery in the drilling of a hole, said apparatus is configured to:

-   -   couple the orientation device to the drilling machine such that         an axial axis of the orientation device coincides with an axial         axis of the drilling machinery;     -   be kept stationary while said apparatus is powered on for the         calibration and power-on self-test sequence;     -   guide the coincidence of the axial axis of the drilling machine         until said axial axis coincides with the orientation required         for the well hole;

keep the required orientation of the drilling machine during the drilling of the well hole.

8. The orientation apparatus according to embodiment 7, wherein the detection means are additionally configured to track the relative movement of the orientation device after it has been calibrated and after the power-on self-test sequence in order to determine the relative movement of said orientation device. 9. The orientation apparatus according to any of embodiments 7 or 8, wherein the orientation device is additionally configured to be uncoupled from the orientation apparatus of the drilling machine after the orientation required for the well hole to be drilled has been found. 10. The orientation apparatus according to any of embodiments 7 or 8, wherein the orientation device is additionally configured to stay coupled to the drilling machine after the orientation required for the well hole to be drilled has been found.

Possible embodiments of the method for orienting drilling machinery are listed below:

11. A method for orienting drilling machinery in the oriented drilling of a well hole comprising the steps of:

-   -   coupling the orientation apparatus for drilling machinery         according to any of embodiments 1 to 6 to a drilling machine         such that the orientation apparatus coincides with the axial         axis of the drilling machinery;     -   powering on the orientation apparatus, keeping it stationary for         the calibration and power-on self-test sequence;     -   handling the drilling machine until the axial axis thereof         coincides with the orientation required for the well hole;     -   drilling the well hole.         12. The method for orienting according to embodiment 11, which         additionally comprises tracking the relative movement of the         orientation device after it has been calibrated and after the         power-on self-test sequence in order to determine the relative         movement of said orientation device.         13. The method for orienting according to any of embodiments 11         or 12, wherein after the step for handling the drilling element,         a step is included for uncoupling the orientation apparatus from         the drilling machine.         14. The method for orienting according to any of embodiments 11         or 12, wherein after the step for handling the drilling element,         a step is included for keeping the orientation apparatus coupled         to the drilling machine. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An orientation apparatus for drilling machinery comprising: an orientation device comprised by a casing; fastening means that can be connected to the casing and configured to couple the orientation device to the drilling machinery; and detection means in data communication with electronic means provided in the casing configured to determine the relative orientation of the orientation device with respect to true north; an interface device in data communication with the orientation device and configured to display directional information of said orientation device which enables the axial alignment of the drilling machine with respect to the axial axis of a hole to be drilled; The orientation apparatus being characterised in that the detection means of the orientation device comprise at least one micromechanical gyroscope configured to determine the relative orientation of the orientation device with respect to true north.
 2. The orientation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detection means of the orientation device comprise three micromechanical gyroscopes.
 3. The orientation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the orientation device comprises at least three mutually-orthogonal accelerometers.
 4. The orientation apparatus according claim 1, wherein the electronic means are configured to reduce the noise of the signal, the error and the deviation in the readings taken from the micromechanical gyroscope.
 5. The orientation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data communication between the interface device and the orientation device is established wirelessly.
 6. The orientation apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the interface device is portable.
 7. A method for orienting drilling machinery in the oriented drilling of a well hole comprising the steps of: coupling the orientation apparatus for drilling machinery according to claim 1 to a drilling machine such that the orientation apparatus coincides with the axial axis of the drilling machinery; powering on the orientation apparatus, keeping it stationary for the calibration and power-on self-test sequence; handling the drilling machine until the axial axis thereof coincides with the orientation required for the well hole; drilling the well hole.
 8. The method for orienting according to claim 7, which additionally comprises tracking the relative movement of the orientation device after it has been calibrated and after the power-on self-test sequence in order to determine the relative movement of said orientation device.
 9. The method for orienting according to claim 7, wherein after the step for handling the drilling element, a step is included for uncoupling the orientation apparatus from the drilling machine.
 10. The method for orienting according to claim 7, wherein after the step for handling the drilling element, a step is included for keeping the orientation apparatus coupled to the drilling machine. 